The coolest design-led coffee shops in Seoul

With more cafés per capita than any other city in the world, Seoul offers a dynamic coffee culture unlike anywhere else, comprising international chains, local favourites, themed cafés, and a growing number of high-quality independents. Among the thousands of options available, the following selection of design-led cafés stands apart from the ordinary – perfect for a pause amid the bustle of Frieze Seoul 2025 (3-6 September).

Ten of the best coffee shops in Seoul

Blue Bottle Myeongdong Cafe

Speciality coffee roaster Blue Bottle enlisted Teo Yang Studio for the design of its outpost in the heaving shopping district of Myeong-dong. The brief was to preserve the brand’s DNA while tailoring the site to its surroundings. The Seoul-based practice responded by elevating the brand’s trademark blue into a central design element, weaving it through a concept that also draws on hanok (traditional Korean houses) and the spatial philosophy of jakyung (architecture as part of the scenery).

Compact and pared back, the Myeong-dong café is built for its grab-and-go rhythm. A soft palette of white and blue sets a calming backdrop that sharpens the senses for the aroma of freshly brewed coffee. Order the signature New Orleans-style coffee, laced with roasted chicory, and pair it with something sweet from the rotating bakery counter. SDLC

Blue Bottle Myeongdong Cafe is located at 14 Myeongdong-gil, Jung District, Seoul, South Korea.

Cafe Aalto by Mealº

In the transformed district of Yongsan-gu, a clean-cut café inspired by Alvar Aalto anchors David Chipperfield’s first project in South Korea: the Amorepacific World Headquarters. Aptly named Cafe Aalto, the site is a study in wooden textures and stark proportions, attuned to natural rhythms. While the singular Stool 60 and Chair 66 offer the most direct references to the work of the late Finnish architect and designer, a striking ceiling installation by Teo Yang Studio is equally noteworthy. Thinly slatted birch screens frame a sculptural cut-out ceiling, recalling Aalto’s Savoy Vase.

The central reading table, featuring tomes on Finnish architecture, is best enjoyed with a drink – even the coffee receives an Aalto-inspired twist, with fresh chestnut cream. Sweet bites, led by local bakery Mealº, complement the café’s aesthetic. Expect cube custard bread and Goyang slices to disappear quickly from the shelves. SDLC

Cafe Aalto by Mealº is located at 100 Hangang-daero, Yongsan District, Seoul, South Korea.

Coffee Nap Roasters

Coffee Nap Roasters selected design studio MAOOM to conceptualise its award-winning space, which heralds a hill made of 7,000 bricks for people to sit and enjoy coffee. Located on a triangular corner in Yeonnam-dong, the unique space shares a strong connection with nature, with its ceiling allowing sunlight and moonlight to come through.

The café, notes founder and owner Jinho Lee, ‘brightens up the area and will continue to show its unique beauty with only the simplest tones and textures even after a long time passes’. RS

Coffee Nap Roasters is located at 70 Seongmisan-ro 27-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea.

Foreplan

Foreplan, which lies hidden at the end of an alley in Seongsu-dong, near Ttukseom Station, perfectly reflects the ambience of an architectural office. Near the entrance, visitors can playfully flip wooden boxes to create letters. Inside, displays of sketches and models, tables lined with cutting mats and yellow tracing paper, as well as open shelving displaying books and magazines, add character to the space.

Offerings comprise a brunch menu along with a wide selection of beverages, including coffee and espresso drinks. However, those looking for something beyond the usual latte might try the signature Macadamia Cream Latte, topped with a thick layer of smooth cream and a sprinkle of crushed nuts. RS

Foreplan is located at 30-11 Wangsimni-ro 14-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, South Korea.

Hahouse Cafe

One of the latest industrial-chic additions to the city, Hahouse Cafe operates in the multicultural Itaewon district. The coffee shop, which doubles as a gallery on its upper floor, is a clean choreography of raw materials, including concrete, stainless steel, and wood. Niceworkshop’s founder, Hyunseog Oh, aimed to conceptualise a space that would connect natural elements with man-made materials as a symbol of unity and cohesion.

Bespoke furnishings follow the same principles as Oh's Neo-Naturalism series: tables and chairs feature wood grain patterns etched onto geometric stainless-steel surfaces, while standard-sawn timber logs inspire stools. If the steel leaves you feeling a little cold, pair a warm coffee with one of the bakery’s signature sweet domes. Hahouse Cafe’s edible Jenga – made with French AOP butter, Guérande sea salt, Valrhona chocolate, and other rich flavours – makes for a very sweet pastime. SDLC

Hahouse Cafe is located at 8 2F Itaewon-ro 54ga-gil, Yongsan District, Seoul, South Korea.

Hrr

The name of this coffee shop-cum-glasshouse comes from the onomatopoeic Korean word 흐르르, phonetically rendered as ‘Hrr’. Located at the entrance of Jamwon Hangang Park, its crisp white interiors are as calming as the nearby Han River. The minimalist colour palette and open layout are grounded by mature wooden pillars, evoking the area’s maritime heritage. Thanks to the floor-to-ceiling windows, natural light continuously pours in, and with the subtle blue tint in the glass, it often feels like you're submerged underwater.

The highlight here is the joyful trio of baked goods, bagels, and coffee. Fruits and vegetables are home-grown by the café owners, and the top pick is the signature sandwich featuring ham, figs, cream cheese, garlic, and butter, perfectly balancing savoury and sweet. Pair it with a warming Americano and a coconut financier, and sink into a pocket of calm. SDLC

Hrr is located at 201-12 Jamwon-ro, Seocho District, Seoul, South Korea.

Perception

Perception sits in the Hapjeong neighbourhood: an area that has become popular for cafés due to its proximity to several major universities, including Hongik University, a prestigious art school. The spot is known for its striking ceiling – a flowing structure consisting of curved wooden slats, which architect and designer Jung Hae Jun-Feelament dubbed ‘The Shading Tree’.

A range of coffee options and espresso-based drinks, including the usual cappuccinos, lattes, and flat whites, might be the order of the day, but their Atmosphere of the Place (an ice-crème latte), Temperature of the Day (a mocha-crème latte), and Memory of the Moment (an espresso with a blend of sweet cream and pink salt) are the real highlights. RS

Perception is located at 16 Eoulmadang-ro 1-gil, Hapdžong-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea.

Pont Cafe Mullae

Pont Cafe Mullae is located in Mullae-dong, one of the oldest industrial areas in the city, with many of the former factory buildings being turned into artist workshops and galleries. The coffee shop operates in an old red brick building that formerly housed five separate ironwork factories.

Studio Stof was chosen to design the space for its adaptive reuse as a café. The architects preserved the distinctive shell while incorporating modern elements. The original rough, raw ceiling was partially exposed to add height and depth to the space, allowing sunlight to filter in through various types of windows. The orange-toned interior features a mix of materials, including plywood, terracotta tiles, and plaster walls, symbolising the bright and warm service customers receive. RS

Pont Cafe Mullae is located at 1F, 6, Gyeongin-ro 77ga-gil, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, South Korea.

Seoul Coffee Ikseon

Seoul Coffee Ikseon is housed in an old traditional Korean house (hanok), among the small alleys in Ikseon-dong. Local architectural firm Labotory preserved the traditional features of the original building, including sections of the roof, beams and the entrance's thick wooden door, while adding modern elements, such as brass accents, glass blocks and a horizontally shaped light-box exterior sign.

The café design possesses a humble desire to preserve the unique culture of the city and reminds visitors of the comfort that familiar things provide. Visitors can expect a traditional coffee and espresso menu, but also delicacies like Angbutter Bread, Injeolmi Tiramisu, Sobok and Vienna Milk Tea. RS

Seoul Coffee Ikseon is located at 166-31 Ikseon-dong, Jongno District, Seoul, South Korea.

Upstanding Coffee

A different take on the warm, light-filled cafés of Seoul, Upstanding Coffee appeals with its run-down aesthetic. Conceptualised by The First Penguin (T-FP), the local practice sought to create a modern-day coffee shop that would attract a contemporary clientele while respecting the local environment. Much of the aesthetic of the former site was left intact, with new finishes including stainless steel and lauan plywood. Doors and windows were designed to reinterpret the shape and movement of the original ones, while a brand new, striking spiral staircase was installed.

Settle down on one of the three floors with the café’s signature Magic coffee, inspired by how baristas in Melbourne achieve the golden ratio of espresso to milk. Bakery goods are also prepared with the utmost care. The interior might be purposely undone, but the offering here is anything but. SDLC

Upstanding Coffee is located at 99-11 Sinheung-ro, Yongsan 2(i)ga-dong, Yongsan District, Seoul, South Korea.